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;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] minuta | ;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] minuta | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 12-14 cm | + | 12-14 cm Bill - short, thin with fine tip. Legs - black. Plumage: Adult mottled brown above and white below in summer, mottled grey above in winter. Juvenile similar with an obvious white double V on the back. Supercilium divides just above the eye, dark loral patch and ear coverts. Diffuse brown streaking to neck and breast. Primary projection long, usually 2-3 primary tips visible beyond the tertials. In flight shows a white wing bar and white margins to the rump. |
| − | |||
Sexes are similar. | Sexes are similar. | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | |||
[[Image:3294littlestint200906g.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|postcardcv|postcardcv}}<br />Mixed flock of [[Dunlin]] and little stint. [[Titchwell Marsh|Titchwell]], [[Norfolk]], [[UK]]]] | [[Image:3294littlestint200906g.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|postcardcv|postcardcv}}<br />Mixed flock of [[Dunlin]] and little stint. [[Titchwell Marsh|Titchwell]], [[Norfolk]], [[UK]]]] | ||
| + | [[Red-necked Stint]] Slightly larger with somewhat shorter legs. Bill tends to be blunt-tipped. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Primary projection not as long. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Western Sandpiper]] Bigger with longer legs, bill long and decurved, looks slimmer than Little Stint. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Dunlin]] Bigger again than Little Stint, plumages similar mix of browns above and white below, | ||
| + | |||
| + | in summer the black belly is obvious. Bill is longer and decurved. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Revision as of 20:46, 18 January 2016
- Calidris minuta
Identification
12-14 cm Bill - short, thin with fine tip. Legs - black. Plumage: Adult mottled brown above and white below in summer, mottled grey above in winter. Juvenile similar with an obvious white double V on the back. Supercilium divides just above the eye, dark loral patch and ear coverts. Diffuse brown streaking to neck and breast. Primary projection long, usually 2-3 primary tips visible beyond the tertials. In flight shows a white wing bar and white margins to the rump. Sexes are similar.
Similar Species
Red-necked Stint Slightly larger with somewhat shorter legs. Bill tends to be blunt-tipped.
Primary projection not as long.
Western Sandpiper Bigger with longer legs, bill long and decurved, looks slimmer than Little Stint.
Dunlin Bigger again than Little Stint, plumages similar mix of browns above and white below,
in summer the black belly is obvious. Bill is longer and decurved.
Distribution
Breeds in far northern Europe and Asia. Winters in Africa and South Asia.
Casual vagrant to north eastern United States and also to Australia.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Coastal and island tundra, sandy beaches, mudflats, and estuaries.
Behaviour
Breeding
It nests on a bare ground scrape laying 3-5 eggs. Male and female may incubate separate clutches.
Diet
Diet includes small invertebrates picked off the mud.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Calidris minuta (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
